Government to set up first of rural security brigades this week

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, May 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

National Lands Institute (INTI) president, Adan Chavez says the government will set up the first rural security brigades  (BSR) within the next  couple of days and they will consist of State Political & Security (DISIP) Police, Police Detective Branch (CICPC) and the National Guard (GN) in their task to protect groups of small farmers and peasants that have requested agrarian certificates to occupy idle lands in areas where rural leaders have been murdered. 

Chavez says the BSRs will also monitor conflict zones. 

The President's brother made the announcement at a National Assembly (AN) grilling when called upon to explain alleged illegal takeovers of private land. 

"The government will restore land if it can be shown that a mistake has been made but we will continue to implement a plan that ends on August 16." 

By that time the INTI, Chavez insists, hopes to have handed over at least 1.5 million hectares that will benefit 200,000 families of small farmers and peasants.